Don’t Concern Yourself With That Book

“I’ll explain that for you!”

“Yes, please do, Soricks.”

Trying to avoid Hernan’s piercing gaze, I stared at Soricks instead. Soricks smiled as refreshingly as a young boy before speaking.

“Back when the first emperor signed a direct contract with the Lord of the Gods, the Empire was considered to be in its heyday, right? The Empire was really majestic back then. Even the power of the templars were at their peak.”

“”I’ve heard about that. Everyone has. So what?”

“Our earth has been blessed, hasn’t it? Since His Majesty is the heir to the Lord of the Gods, it is up to the Emperor’s ability to maintain the Lord of the Gods’ power.”

“Well, so what you’re saying is that the ability the emperor holds is a great power, right? The more powerful the Emperor is, the stronger the templars will be?”

“Yes. Very good, pipio.”

He smiled and stroked my cheek.

“What does that have to do with the heart?”

“All the templars can feel the power of the emperor through their instincts. You can consider it the ‘source’ of their power. Well, like how birds of prey can detect their food through smell. It’s similar but the feeling cannot be described as such. But the moment templars see the heir to the Lord of the Gods, they can feel a strong presence. We call that feeling ‘the pain of our hearts’. So you can assume that the emperor has ‘control’ over all the templars.”

“What do you mean by ‘control’?”

“Basically, we can never harm His Majesty, the emperor and his heir, the crown prince. Even if they are to threaten and try to kill us.”

“I mean, is that even possible?”

“Yes. Just because the hot sun can bring about droughts doesn’t mean that the sun is not being pulled closer to the ground. Dispose of your thoughts that still think that such things are impossible.”

What kind of horrible relationship was that?

I had forgotten about Hernan’s gaze as I opened and closed my mouth. I could now see how this Empire could maintain its reign for thousands of years without falling into ruin. Though the end was just round the corner.

As I received Sorick’s pats, I looked up at him. Certainly, the way he explained it made the stories about the empire’s birth easier to understand unlike how it was in theology class.

“Well, what about now? I wonder how powerful the emperor is now?”

“Uhm, well…”

“Prin- I mean, pipio. You shouldn’t ask such sensitive questions in the palace.”

Instead of Soricks, Penne was the one who replied but someone interrupted him.

“He is considered to be the weakest in history.”

Hernandez was the one who replied.

“That’s why everybody is waiting for the crown prince to ascend the throne.”

He was speaking quietly yet strangely. Soricks also spoke carefully.

“That’s… how it is. His powers are truly the greatest… out of anyone I’ve ever seen. I’ve never experienced such a strong pain in my heart before whenever I see him.”

“Maybe you only felt like that because you are a strong templar, Soricks.”

“Yes, I suppose so… Urgh, it was still an unforgettable amount of pain.”

Hernan looked on calmly. But his gentle smile was only directed at one place. I suddenly realised.

Hernan was looking at Sorick’s hand which was placed on my shoulders.

I could not stand his gaze anymore and jolted up.

“Pipio?”

I could not do this anymore. I glared at Hernandez. And Hernandez turned his head to face me.

“Is there something wrong?”

“Ah… come with me!”

I kept my gaze on Hernandez and left the room.

Then, I walked along the white hallways for a long time before reaching the back garden. My head was ringing as my stomach felt heavy as it twisted. (1)

As I reached the lush greenery, I swivelled around.

“What are you trying to do?”

Hernandez followed behind me closely.

The nightmarish days of my past were eating away at my lessons and occupied most of my mind. I could not believe anyone outside my own palace and the truth was that there were no favours without a price.

“Were you surprised that I suddenly called you outside?”

“… No. I was not.”

His smile shook like a leaf fluttering in the wind. I tried to slowly calm my anger.

I suddenly recalled how he knelt on the ground and offered me a smile on that day.

“You told me to use you, am I right?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

He was seriously horrible. As cruel as the sword that sliced my neck.

“Then are you trying to tell me to use you right now? By coming all the way to the place where I’m learning in?”

“That’s not it, princess. The 4th Administration is in grave danger now. Which is why I’m here.”

“Danger? More dangerous than the fact that you’re hovering around me?”

Castor could not be unaware of Hernandez’s actions.

“I think I’ll see my brother again if I stick with you.”

Right, I knew I was being over sceptical and extremely wary now. But this was natural if I did not want to die anymore. It was never bad to be too careful, right?

Why was he gradually getting in my way? Why?

“Princess, do you remember how I told you how there were suspicious movements in the 4th Administration?”

So what? He should not be bringing up problems that are irrelevant to me.”

“We might not have been sure two years ago but we are now. I mean, it has become more dangerous because of you, princess.”

“What?”

I glared at him as if to say I would never forgive him if he was lying.

He took on my gaze silently and looked as if he was thinking about what to say. He continued quietly.

“Two years ago, the Aedile, Granius, retired from his position of neutrality to protect you and joined the 2nd Prince’s faction. But as a result, he plowed a seed of discord, I mean, he should not have declared it so obnoxiously in the first place. It ended up placing you in danger.”

He signed before covering his face with his hands and briefly muttering to himself.

“What nonsense.”

In such a short time, goosebumps began to pop up on my face. His white hair fluttered as a gust of wind swept through the two of us. As his hair fluttered back to its original position, his face softened to the expression I had gotten so used to.

“Of course, Granius had no thoughts on moving so suddenly either. It was a good decision to hide your identity here. Do you even know what kind of place the Soletorium is?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Following the Arente Palace, the Soletorium has the highest gathering of templars. Now that this place is no longer maintaining its neutrality, it has become more dangerous. Those who want to take over the Soleetorium and those who only want to extort the benefits of such a fight are beginning to collude and join forces.”

“What are you talking about and what the hell does it have to do with me?”

“Princess, have you not encountered them before?”

Hernan spoke slowly, emphasising every syllable.

“Assassins.”

I paused for a moment. Rendered speechless, I stared at him. Hernan stared at me with a smile.

“Have you ever thought it strange? It doesn’t make sense for you to receive assassinations. Their goal is not to simply kill you.”

“Then?”

“They want to incite conflict and anger using your death.”

“… Whose?”

“One would be the aedile, Granius, the one whose protecting you and the other…”

His voice was silenced by the wind. His hair was fluttering and flying everywhere. I knew he was deliberately not finishing his sentence.

‘You don’t want me to know.’

His white hair that looked as if all the pigment that had once been in them had been sucked out fluttered. And between the strands of his hair, I locked my gaze with his.

Soon, in the flurry, Hernan smiled but just for a moment, he looked like an unfamiliar stranger.

No, that did not make sense. I did not even know him in the first place. Had I ever known him?

His eyes that had a tint of purple in them were swaying like the wind.

‘So they’re planning on killing me and inciting Granius’ anger?’

To put it simply, I found myself stuck in the middle of a power struggle. I mean, even if I were to die, where was Granius’ anger going to be directed towards? The 2nd prince? The crown prince? The answer was in these pieces of information and I thought I knew the answer but there were still many things I did not know yet.

Blinking, I spoke.

“I’m not in danger. I already have a competent escort.”

And I was referring to my diary, It was still good to know when I was going to die and avoid it even if that meant I was leading myself to another death flag. At that moment, I ignored the questionable fact that I had yet to see even one of these assassins.

“The ones that are about to appear will be different from the ones you have faced before.”

“How?”

“They will be templars. Powerful ones.”

He spoke with certainty.

“Your escort is a normal human being. Only templars can face other templars. I know someone here who is especially good.”

I took in a deep breath, trying to clear my hazy thoughts that made me feel as if I had found myself trapped in a fog.

“… And who’s that?”

As I raised my gaze, I saw him look at me sweetly with an expression that was as gentle as the sky.

“Me.”

As soon as he smiled, the leaves behind me seemed to become shinier and prettier. It was not awkward to see him brag about himself at all. Even when he was closing his eyes, he was definitely a handsome man.

“You’re going to protect me? Funny enough, I don’t need it.”

“You don’t have a competent templar on your side.”

“That’s not true. I have the 4th prince.”

“Can he leave his palace?”

I closed my mouth with a frown.

He then looked at me again with a smile. Flecks of purple began to appear in his sky blue eyes. I had seen the same thing happen with Castor and Soricks. When the eyes of a templar began to change colours, it meant that they were about to use their ability.

‘What kind of powers does Hernan have?’

At some point, he started holding my hands.

“I won’t do anything to you. I’m just protecting you.”

He held me as if I was going to disappear and lowered his head as he smiled.

“I will never try to cross this distance.”

He gently kissed my hand. Just like the time I first came here, the heat of his body pressing against my ring finger felt strange.

“Only templars can recognise other templars.”

He then went on to explain that I could never avoid the powers of templars by myself.

“I’ll just protect you from here.”

The cold wind shook my hair. I bit my lips and he smiled softly at my silent permission.

He was surely calculating.

“I don’t want to lose you because of my greed.”

T/N:

(1): Not the same as the one in Ashley’s palace.